Russellville will be one of nine destination cities for a flotilla hosted by the Arkansas River Connection this fall, the Russellville Advertising and Promotion (A&P) Commission learned Thursday.

A&P Executive Director Christie Graham originally told the commission about the planned 10-day trip along the Arkansas River at its June meeting, but did not have full details at that time.

Now, Graham said she can confirm the flotilla is planning to make Russellville one of nine overnight stays. In addition, Arkansas River Connection asked the A&P to provide a $3,000 sponsorship. The group will also eat dinner while in Russellville, but Graham said preparations and funding for the dinner were the responsibility of the Russellville Area Chamber of Commerce.

Although Graham said the event is expected to feature 20 yachts and garner extensive media coverage, some commission members were not sure how far it would go in promoting tourism in Russellville.

"I don't see this doing a whole lot for Russellville, I really just don't," Paul Northcut, a representative to the commission from the Russellville City Council, said.

Graham said she told event organizers that $3,000 was not feasible, but that she would approach the commission and ask for a smaller amount. Randall Horton, another Russellville alderman serving on the commission, made a motion to agree to a $1,000 sponsorship to the event, but the motion died without a second.

In other business, the commission voted to provide a $1,500 sponsorship to the Downtown Fall Festival and Chili Cookoff, hosted each year by Main Street Russellville (MSR). John Harris, an MSR board member, was present to answer questions from commissioners. He said last year's attendance was estimated at 5,000 to 7,000. MSR originally requested a sponsorship of $1,999.

Next month, the commission is expected to vote on an $80 mini-grant request for the Arkansas Fallen Soldiers Memorial on Oct. 15. Graham said there is a motorcycle rally planned in Hot Springs the weekend of the event, and the bikers are expected to ride to Russellville that evening for the memorial.

Commissioners also heard from Dave Arnold, a resource director with the U.S. Army, via teleconference on Thursday. Arnold proposed the A&P promote itself as a military-friendly destination for troops coming home from active deployment. He said a 5- by 3-inch space in the Army's quarterly publication, the Griffon, would be sent to 50 battalions and cost the city $445 per quarter.